In more than 80 years of career, Line Renaud has carved out a special place for herself in the hearts of the French, both as a singer and actress, and as an ambassador for Sidaction. But did you know that this great lady had changed her name several times?
Happy birthday Line Renaud! This July 2, 2026, the famous Mademoiselle from Armentières celebrates his 98th birthday. A birthday that the star should celebrate discreetly at home, in her house in La Jonchère (in Rueil-Malmaison); where Bernadette Chirac had settled for the last weeks of her life.
Line Renaud: What is her real name?
The interpreter of the legendary titles My Cabin in Canada or even Snow Star has long been one of the favorite personalities of the French, both for his impressive career between musical hall, song and comedy, and for his strong commitments to Sidaction but also in favor of assisted dying with dignity.
Despite her status as a national icon, there is a secret that Line Renaud keeps rather well hidden… Her real name! She actually changed her name twice during her career. Line Renaud was born as Jacqueline Simone Alberte Ente.
And it was under the name Jacqueline Ente that she started her career on local radio in the North, her beloved region. But, at the age of 14, when she was selected to be part of the Radio-Lille orchestra, she decided to call herself Jacqueline Ray.
How did Jacqueline Ente become Line Renaud?
It was only after meeting her great love and mentor, Loulou Gasté, in 1945 that Line Renaud definitively changed her name. The composer and musician, twenty years her senior, who had decided to take her under his artistic wing, advised her to opt for a softer and more modern first name. Jacqueline then becomes Line, a first name also easier to remember.
“I moved in with my future husband Loulou Gasté in the 1950s, on rue Ruhmkorff (17th), a small street near Porte Maillot that even taxis had difficulty finding. That’s where I became Line Renaud from Jacqueline Enté and started auditioning“, told Line Renaud to the city of Paris website, after the inauguration of the garden that bears her name in the capital.
In terms of last name, Line Renaud chooses to pay homage to her grandmother, Marguerite Renard. A simple change of letter gave her the surname that made her famous in France, but also in the United States where she was a revue leader in Las Vegas for several years.
